3. A new Ministry of Education policy just released October 1983, "College Use of School Facilities", will eliminate Ministry of Education funding as of April 1, 1984 for minor leases in B.C. community colleges. "A minor lease is considered to be one for a facility located less than 50 kms. from the core campus or serving a population of less than 10,000." This could eliminate college programming in our smaller communities, such as Hope, Mission, Maple Ridge, Parksville, Trail, Hazelton, Smithers and Kimberley, and further impede women who would then have to travel greater distances. The majority of students attending college programs in smaller communities are part-time women students upgrading in Adult Basic Education and Employment Preparation programs. It should be noted that Adult Education research has consistently shown that individuals will not travel more than 30 kms. to attend adult education courses.
   
   
4. The three-year funding of positions/programs in colleges and institutes for Women's Access Co-ordinators will end in 1983. This funding has enabled all colleges to implement programs of information, counselling, advocacy and training for women. Specifically, funding for the development and distribution of resource materials, such as "Women at Work: New Alternatives" an introductory trade course, will no longer continue.
   
   
5. Severe cutbacks have affected the extensive social service program in B.C. One of the most devastating effects will be the elimination of the education subsidy granted to men and women on income assistance (welfare). Thousands of women in B.C. who for the most part are single parents on income assistance depended on this small education subsidy to assist them to return to learning. This subsidy for many was enough to bridge the gap and help with child care, transportation, and fee subsidy. The effect of the elimination of this education subsidy can only further isolate women, from their accessibility to post- secondary education.
   
   
6. Continued cutbacks to the Continuing Education programs at colleges and institutes in B.C have forced more and more part- time non-credit bridging programs for women to move to a cost-recovery basis. This, then, places an additional and insurmountable financial barrier on many women who use continuing education programs as the "first step entry" into post-secondary education. There is already an indication in B.C. that participation of women in part-time non-credit, career awareness, bridging programs is on the decline, due to the fee increases imposed over the last two years.

In conclusion, it does not become difficult to pinpoint a number of restraint measures inflicted by the B.C. Social Credit Government that will seriously affect women's participation, accessibility, and motivation to post-secondary education programs in B.C. Perhaps the recent "Skill Development Leave Task Force Report" 1983 will encourage and challenge adult educators to promote a comprehensive national policy of recurrent education which will facilitate the access of all qualified and interested Canadians to education and training opportunities by reducing barriers to participation, including those due to geography, financial hardship, and socio- economic status. I am convinced that B.C. women who want to access post-secondary education will be left behind unless such a national recurrent education policy is developed.